Tourism year logo unveiling by President Juncker and Prime Minister Li, in the presence of Commissioner Malmström and Chairman Li from CNTA. (Photo courtesy: EU-China Tourism Year)

(TibetanReview.net, Feb17, 2018) – In connection with the launch in January in Venice of the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year (ECTY), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) have written to the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and to the European Union High Representative, Federica Mogherini, expressing a number of concerns in relation to the promotion of tourism in Tibet.

The letter, which is dated Feb 14, highlights, among other things, lack of access to Tibet for foreigners, given the fact that Chinese tourists enjoy free and open access to the EU.

It also refers to restrictions imposed on Tibetans’ freedom of movement and the lack of involvement of Tibetans in the decision-making process of tourism policies and projects.

The letter also raises a number of questions and makes recommendations to EU leaders, urging them to extend the notion of reciprocity – a notion promoted by the EU with regard to its trade relationship with China – in terms of giving “respect for fundamental rights, including the freedom of movement and the freedom of information of European citizens in China and Tibet”.